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Post by Killian Glae on Nov 7, 2022 14:23:17 GMT -5
Killian enjoyed being in Sol City. Whenever he finished a job, he tended to come back here. It was strange, really. He was born in a small village, and the first time he came to Sol City, he had found it overwhelming and chaotic. But he always came back. Maybe he liked being lost amongst the crowds. Maybe he had just adopted the place into his heart as a new home. Whatever the case, he was back, and he took some small solace in that fact. But he wouldn't be staying for long. Even now, he made his way to a bounty board that always had the most interesting jobs. As he approached, he saw someone take a notice from the board and walk away. Another adventurer out to make his name and fortune. Killian didn't really care for those things, although the fortune was admittedly useful. One has to pay for bread somehow. But Killian was mainly concerned with getting rid of the threats that plagued the innocent people of Charon.
He walked up to the bounty board and started scanning the different job postings. Bandits in King's Valley. No. Succubus in the Marsh Flats. No. Help Me Meet the Witch of Moonglade. What? Killian shook his head and continued looking for something that would catch his interest. His gaze landed on a flyer entitled Avoid Daisy Village. He frowned. This didn't seem to be a job, more like a warning. He leaned in to read the details.
DANGER. Beware all who travel in Moonglade! The village of Daisy is to be steered clear of at all costs. Do not approach at ANY COST. If you travel near, beware the cries of children and women. DO NOT INVESTIGATE. DO NOT GO TO DAISY. DANGER. DANGER. DANGER.
Interesting.
Killian reached out his hand to take the notice, when a pale white hand reached from behind him. Both hands grabbed the scrap of paper.
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Nov 9, 2022 18:39:08 GMT -5
Daisy Village. What a quaint name for a town accursed by something that even his patron has no name for.
Caedes’ boots click against the cobblestone of the city streets. The hood of his black cloak is pulled up over his head, casting a sharp shadow over his pallid complexion. His pale gaze sweeps the street; children rush about, grasping at their mother’s skirts; men and women hurry past, late for work; and animals occasionally pass by, baying, barking, or mewling. It’s lively today. You’re certain about this? ‘Daisy Village’ sounds like a place where pixies would go to play.
Spiderling, have I ever led you astray?
Caedes furrows his brows, the voice of his patron deep in the recesses of his mind causes shadows to flicker at the edges of his vision. An ache rises to the forefront of his temples. He raises a hand, massaging at the side of an eye as his gaze drifts towards a job notice board… Wait. Wait just a second! Yes— yes you have, actually; mind telling me why I’m in Sol City, if this beast of concern lies in the Moon Glade?
His only response is a series of low, humdrum chuckles; and his patron cuts connection, leaving him high and dry in the middle of Sol City. He winces as the white noise fades. “...Great…” Every detail he’d given a particular tiefling about why he needed to be in Sol City just became null-and-void.
Would it be easier to just tell him that he's possessed, at this point? His headache is just getting worse. Frustrated, he strides for the board, reaching out to rip the paper from its pedestal when someone else snags the paper on his other side. As his pale gaze flicks to follow the arm of the offender, he finds a tall, pale man standing at his side. … Has he always been here, or did he just stride up? Almost immediately, Caedes releases the paper, allowing the stranger to take it. “ My bad.” he remarks with a cold chuckle, keeping a neutral expression as he withdraws his hand in a surrendering gesture. “ Go ahead.” Again, I ask, spiderling: have I ever led you astray?
He hides a wince behind a turn of his head, pretending to look at the board in front of him, instead: what does that… his brows furrow slightly. Tell me you’re kidding…
The things in that village are too much for you to handle alone.
Then why couldn’t I bring Zarius?
Too many questions. I cannot afford to lose my last vessel.
The white noise fades, leaving him staring at one of the pages on the boa… Witch of the Moonglade? Kamille?
He narrows his eyes and takes a breath, before looking at the stranger from the corner of his eye. “You’re not planning on going there, are you?” he remarks, offering the stranger a smile behind shaded eyes. “Everyone’s saying there’s something evil in that place.”
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Post by Killian Glae on Nov 9, 2022 21:02:00 GMT -5
The pale stranger's smile sent a chill down Killian's spine. There was something unnerving about this man. Perhaps it was the fangs that showed themselves when he spoke. Perhaps it was the way the man seemed to be listening to something that wasn't there. Or maybe it was the way he held himself. The relaxed grace of a dancer. Or a duelist. Killian didn't doubt for a second that this man was dangerous...
He glanced down at the flyer warning of Daisy Village. Maybe someone dangerous was exactly what he needed. He glanced back up at the stranger sharply. "That's the point." His voice was low, with a hint of gravel to it. He spoke in a quiet, calm tone.
He eyed the stranger, then looked up at the rooftops rising above them. A trip to the Moonglade took a few days... Could be lonely... He smiled inwardly. 'Feeling lonely, Killian?' he wondered to himself.
Without taking his eyes off the skyline, he spoke again. "Weren't you going to go there? I mean..." he held up the flyer and wagged it, still not looking at the stranger. "You did try to take this."
'What are you doing, Killian? You don't want company.' he admonished himself. Maybe not, but if there was one word to describe Killian, it was curious. He had met Astrid primarily because of his curiosity about her Blixtbot, and now this stranger was most definitely curious. Besides... Killian couldn't deny that this man had an ominous air about him. If he was a danger to people...If he needed putting down... Killian let the smallest of smiles cross his face, cold as ice, and finally turned to face the stranger.
"Killian. Killian Glae."
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Nov 10, 2022 23:54:35 GMT -5
"Oh." Caedes chuckles, watching the way he simply waves the flier idly in response. He doesn't spare him a glance. “I suppose you’ve got me there,” he remarks, turning his eyes back to the board. He takes a breath, forging his story in the few moments he has during the lingering silence, to make it seem more natural when he speaks again.
The stranger introduces himself, and Caedes offers him a smile in return; Killian’s face is cold, the kind of man he wouldn’t trust with his life. What in the world was he thinking? He’d rather face whatever the hell was in Daisy Village by himself.
“ Silas. Silas Actaeon.” he greets with the same annunciation, without missing a beat; he offers his hand to the man to shake, but his smile is almost as chilling as Killian’s. Hardly welcoming, in the sense of making a new companion… though, if he ends up meeting the man in Daisy Village, perhaps he should try to stay on his good side. “ Monster Hunter... I was surprised to see the flier up on this board, given the amount of danger in Daisy at the moment. You tell some people to stay out, and they go straight there for the adrenaline rush.” It's not necessarily a jab, nor a comment about Killian in particular— more a reference to the general danger of it. He turns his eyes to the flier in Killian’s hand, crossing his arms, then looks back at him. “ Even my employer isn’t sure what’s terrorizing the village... But I've heard awful things.”
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Post by Killian Glae on Nov 11, 2022 0:40:13 GMT -5
Killian accepted the offered hand, shaking it and looking into the stranger's eyes. Silas... Never trust a man who's smile doesn't reach his eyes. But then, Killian would be a hypocrite if that were true. Or simply an overly-cautious anti-social swordsman... With his eye on Daisy Village.
"It's not about the rush. It's about making Charon a safer land to live in." Killian released Silas' hand, and glanced once more at the flyer. 'Who puts up a warning instead of a job offer?' He wondered. 'Answer: Someone who knows the job is too dangerous.'
Too dangerous for one, that sliver of his mind whispered.
Killian looked up at Silas. "Employer?" Was this man sent here specifically for this job? If so, Killian had even less chance of doing the job solo. 'Can you do it, Killian?' He wondered. 'Can you travel with a man you worry will stab you in your sleep? Can you fight by his side?'
'Lets find out.'
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Nov 11, 2022 19:31:32 GMT -5
“ An honourable man; it’s hard to come across people like you.” he chuckles, allowing his pale gaze to soften beneath the shadows of his cloak. “ Things are bad in Daisy right now…” He withdraws his hand, slipping both behind his back as he takes a breath, and looks to the tall man, his smile replaced by something more concerned. “ Indeed.” he agrees, lifting his hands to lower the cloak from his head. Upon closer inspection, Caedes— or, Silas— appears to be some kind of elven man. His hair, platinum blonde, sprawls over his shoulders; his skin is pale, almost as though he’s not seen the sun for some time… or, perhaps he just has that fair of a complexion naturally. His eyes are odd— a pale blue, but perhaps not terribly unusual for an elf. (1)He breathes a sigh, keeping the charade of his manufactured story going. “ I am not the first to be sent out to Daisy since… well, since it began.” The pale man crosses his arms over his chest, blinking at Killian with a slight frown. He still doesn’t look that trustworthy, most certainly a man of sneakier sorts, whether he’s been rehabilitated or not from what one might deem an unsavoury past. He hopes to appeal to Killian in a way that is more… open. Play to sympathies. “ Like I said, it’s dangerous in Daisy… I will be going in hopes of making a recovery for those who came before me. My employer has... lost a few many men, and wants only to recover what he can for their families.” he taps a foot against the cobblestone, brows furrowing slightly. “ But… to leave that thing in Daisy for others to stumble on doesn’t sit right with me.” He brushes a lock of blonde hair behind a pointed ear, and flicks his gaze to Killian. “...If you are intent on going to Daisy…” he remarks, poising the question with a tilt of his head. “...I think I could use all the help I could get, to figure out what’s been going on there. You want to make Charon safer, as do I; I’m sure I could put a good word about payment in to my employer…” he trails off, then offers Killian a smile. “What would you say about putting our skills together, for the betterment of Charon, and those in the Moonglade?”
(1) Alter Self — A unique skill that allows you to alter most aspects of your physical form. This is purely aesthetic and only changes how you look, it does not change how parts of your body function. You can alter things like your voice, the color and design of things like hair, eyes and skin. This skill is perfect for looking like a different person but only effects your biological appearance and will not alter your items or clothing.
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Post by Killian Glae on Nov 13, 2022 13:00:51 GMT -5
Killian was surprised. He had been ready to offer Silas a partnership, when the stranger beat him to it. Killian smiled, genuinely amused by the turn of events. "I'm sure it would be of great help to us both," he replied, "If Daisy is as dangerous as it seems... as you say... Then I might have gone off and gotten myself killed. Indeed, I'm rather lucky to have bumped into you." The tone was fairly neutral, but Killian hadn't been able to keep a hint of sarcasm from creeping into the sentence. Oh well.
Killian hoisted his travel bag over one shoulder, tightening the strap. He looked at Silas. "I accept your offer."
Daisy Village... Who knows what awaited them there. Killian glanced one final time at the flyer, a chill going down his back, before stuffing it into a pouch on his hip. He looked up. "I'm ready to leave whenever you are. I have all my gear with me already."
Silas... Time would tell what became of this partnership. Killian was ready for any possibility- including a fight with this stranger. Killian realized he was staring at Silas, and tried offering a brittle grin to cover for the moment. "So, what skills exactly are you bringing?" He patted the hilt of his longsword. "I myself am somewhat of a swordsman."
Somewhat of a swordsman... an understatement. After his stint in the Seven, Killian had been left with nothing. So he had taken his natural affinity for bladework and honed it into an art. But why let Silas know that? Better to keep some things secret.
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Nov 17, 2022 15:52:42 GMT -5
Silas chuckles, his pale eyes narrowing at Killian; as a man fluent in the art of sarcasm, the small slip in tone hasn’t gone unnoticed— but he feigns ignorance for the sake of their days-long tumultuous, tentative alliance. The way the man’s cold eyes settle on him tells him this fellow might slit his throat given enough reason to, and he doesn’t need to poke a bear. " Fate brings people together in funny ways, doesn’t it?” he remarks; his chuckle is light while he turns on his heel to face Killian. He rests his hands against his hips, tilting his head with a smile as Killian agrees, “ Great! Really, this will be beneficial for the both of us…” He internally ignores the bubbling frustration towards his patron. “Silas” wasn’t a well-prepared persona in all honesty; in fact, he didn’t expect to need more than the basics to get him through this… Yet, he’s forced to create the details in split seconds with simple phrases and words. Caedes keeps track of what he’s said so far, measuring the way he’s behaved in hopes of keeping it consistent… and with who knows how many days and nights of travel ahead of them, it leaves him at risk of slipping up considerably in front of Killian at some point.
It just takes one mistake to plant a seed of doubt. Great. He’s no stranger to a game of high-stakes charades, but it has been a while since he last committed to one that he couldn’t back out of. “ A swordsman? A good one, I imagine…” Silas takes a pace forwards, lowering his head and looking up at Killian’s face. “ After all, you’ve got to be either talented or reckless to go willingly chasing monsters.” He blinks, smiling innocently up at him. “ ... and I wouldn’t take that serious face of yours as the face of a fool, so it must be the latter.” With that, he breezes past Killian, his cloak brushing across the man’s arm while he slips past him, intending to leave without announcement. “ I’ll be bringing the rest.” he laughs jokingly, turning to face him while he walks backwards towards the crowd. “ Marksmanship, knifework, tracking— what you’d, hopefully, expect from a monster hunter.” he elaborates, more seriously. “ Plus, a free ride to the Moonglade— sound good?”
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Post by Killian Glae on Nov 20, 2022 0:10:28 GMT -5
Killian stared after the departing Silas, hesitating for only a moment before following him. He was committed to this course of action now. Besides, he did need a ride to the Moonglade.
The journey was mostly a silent one. Killian was a quiet person by nature, all the more so with someone he didn't trust. Yet at no point did Silas slit his throat, and likewise, Killian felt no need to drive his blade into the other man's heart. It was on the last day of travel that Killian finally broke the ice.
The two men were sitting around a small campfire, and Killian was feeling particularly tense. He knew that Daisy awaited them on the morrow, and he was both excited and nervous about the coming fight. For there would undoubtedly be a fight. With who or what, Killian didn't know. But there would be combat. Killian poked at the fire with a branch he had picked up from the ground. He glanced up at Silas, the flames dancing in between them. If he was going to fight beside this man tomorrow, he needed to know more about him. At the very least, he needed to put to rest at least some of the doubts he harbored for this stranger.
"Silas."
What to say? How to approach this? Killian was a straight-forward man, and decided to tackle the conversation in the same way. "We fight tomorrow. Side by side." He paused, assessing Silas' reaction, then continued.
"So, let's drop the pretenses." Killian locked eyes with Silas.
"Can I trust you?"
Killian was deadly serious. This was a life or death question. There was nothing more dangerous than going into a fight having to keep an eye on both the enemy and your supposed ally.
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Nov 20, 2022 21:12:27 GMT -5
Praise be to his patron, who blessed him with this excessively quiet and stone-faced man as a traveling companion. Upon leaving, he had cashed in a favour with a man who had owed him for a ride to the Moonglade; luckily, there was no hussle or extra words needing to be exchanged. He managed to get them on a merchant’s ship where Silas proceeded to dance around Killian’s presence as a whole, making himself scarce and available at different calculated times. Partially so that Killian didn’t get too comfortable with his presence, and partially so that he wouldn’t become too lax in his masquerade. The fewer questions, the better.. and yet, despite his worry of needing to cover up his own identity, Killian is startlingly quiet even when he’s not making himself disappear; he’s the strong, silent type from what he can gather from the surface. Not that it’s hard to see that Killian is, in fact, a quiet and cold man simply from the way he holds himself. Not that interested in being friends, or becoming friendly, and Caedes appreciates the hell out of him for that— truly, it makes his job a lot easier. It’s also a pleasant surprise that he hasn’t tried to slit his throat; and Caedes extends those same pleasantries by not attempting to slit his. Mutual benefits, and all that. “ Silas.”
That's the tone of a man who has something to say... Maybe he spoke too soon.
The elven man opens his eyes from where he’s been lying beside the fire and using his backpack as a headrest. He blinks, looking a bit drowsy as he tilts his head to the side just enough to look at Killian from across the fire; orange light dances across his pale skin, embers flickering in his eyes when the fire pops. “ ...Yes, Killian?” He regards the other man in a sleepy tone, blinking slowly at him as he approaches whatever topic he’s trying to get at. “ Mm… we do; we should arrive at Daisy just a few hours before sunset by my calculations—” The awkward but comfortable atmosphere of some quiet little camp shared between mercenaries disappears, replaced with something heavier as Killian continues. Silas blinks slowly at him, locking eyes with the swordsman from across the fire, while he asks if he can trust him… He almost wants to laugh, because he absolutely could not trust him in any other context, but Silas keeps a straight face.
He grunts while he pushes himself up on his elbows, then rolls into a sitting position with his knees tucked close to his chest. Silas sighs, brushing a lock of blonde hair behind an ear as he turns to meet Killian’s eyes. “What reason have I given you to not trust me so far, Killian?” he asks, frowning slightly in hopes of playing to sympathies. “You can trust me. I mean, we’ve come this far together, haven’t we?” …and that’s true, Silas has been on his best behaviour regardless of the fact that he’s about as hard to find as a needle in a haystack on occasions… “ If you’re worried about me trying to skip out or run off, I won’t— hunter’s honour. I would rather die on the field than live like a coward.” He raises two fingers to his chest, over his heart. “ This thing’s killed so many people, I want to see it dead and brought to light just as much as I imagine you do... right?”
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Post by Killian Glae on Nov 21, 2022 1:27:22 GMT -5
What reason have I given you to not trust me... That's what Silas asked. Killian smiled at him through the flames; the coldest thing to pass through fire. Killian dug his branch deeper into the fire, causing a log to crack and the flames to flare up for a moment. He didn't respond to Silas' claims of honor. As the flames died down, he began speaking.
"Do you know what the Seven is, Silas? It's a prison. One of those "deep dark hole" prisons where they throw away the key." Killian eyed Silas, then continued on his seemingly random story. "I spent most of my time in the Seven in isolation, only seeing the guards when they brought me food. But for the first few weeks, I was with the other prisoners there."
Killian stared deeply into the fire, musing. Then he looked back at Silas and continued. "There was one prisoner there, I never knew his name, but the guards allowed him to use magic. Now, why would they let a prisoner use magic? Normally they would simply bind a mage's magic. But they let him keep his magic, because it was useful for everyone in the Seven. You see, there was this one trick he could do... It kept the prisoners calm, and that was something the guards approved of. So they let him do it. This trick of his... well, he could change the way he looked, you see. The prisoners liked it when he made himself look like a woman." Killian had never spoken this much on this journey at one time before.
There was a long pause. Then: "It was a very impressive trick, this little bit of magic he could do. I'd never seen anything like it before. Yes..." Killian's voice trailed off. "Isn't that impressive, Silas? He was able to change the way he looked." He looked directly at Silas, locking eyes. "Don't you think that's impressive?"
The air was frozen, then Killian smiled mirthlessly, his eyes reflecting the flames "You should have kept the fangs, friend."
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Nov 21, 2022 19:59:41 GMT -5
Silas blinks at him, eyes narrowing slightly when he brings up the Seven. “I can’t say I’ve heard of it,” he regards, still feigning his ignorance; but he has a hunch that he’s severely underestimated Killian’s observational skills. The more the man talks and tells his story— the more he understands that the jig is up. Any semblance of feigned friendliness has since left Silas’ expression; with his arms wrapped around his bent knees, the elf simply watches the man while he talks the most he has in days.
Killian locks eyes with him, regarding the man’s abilities from his story, and smiles at him with every ounce of cold that could be gathered from Frost Gale itself before challenging him. “ ... Pfft—” Silas cracks into a smile, covering his mouth with a hand as he turns his face away from Killian. He could continue to play stupid, but it seems he was sloppy the moment he met Killian back in Sol City. The man unwinds his posture, letting his boots slide in the dirt as he looks back at the man from across the fire with a chilly smile of his own. (1) “ Not my best work, I’ll admit.” he remarks, fangs bared in a grin from across the fire at Killian. “ It’s not necessarily magic, though… it’s just who I am.” He doesn’t move to stand yet, but stretches out one leg; he rests his elbow on the other bent knee and leans his cheek against his open palm while he looks at the man. Caedes is still unarmed, not making any obvious attempts to move against him. “ I might’ve considered it, but the fangs don’t exactly project the essence of a ‘friendly, team player’, do they?” He watches Killian warily through narrowed eyes— the way he sits, where his hands are— the way his expression shifts subtly while he’s talking. “ I mean, here we are, after all… with you looking at me like I’ve done something reprehensible.” He blinks, his smile fading. “ Let’s get something straight, Killian: if I wanted to do something to you, I would have days ago. It’s awfully strange of you to wait until we’re out in the middle of nowhere, less than a day from our location, to point this out… but you’ve a sharper eye than I thought… so, congratulations. What are you trying to get by doing this now?” It’s always possible that Killian knows who he is… but it’s also possible that he doesn’t.
(1) Alter Self — Dropped.
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Post by Killian Glae on Nov 21, 2022 22:28:18 GMT -5
Killian observed the figure sitting across the fire; Silas' true form. He couldn't help but feel a small surge of satisfaction at his triumph. The branch he'd been using to dig at the fire was burned-down now, and he dropped it before it could burn him. He glanced back up at Silas.
"Trying to get?" He repeated softly. "I just want the truth. Or at least, enough of the truth to know who's fighting by my side and why."
He kept his gaze on Silas, but he let his expression soften ever so slightly. "I don't doubt you could have killed me already had you wanted to." The words come out barely more than a whisper. "But this isn't about fear. I'm not afraid of you. But I need to know I can trust you. Do you understand? Every time I swing my sword tomorrow, it has to be with a complete understanding of the battlefield and everyone on it. Truth be told, I don't care that you were disguised. But I needed you to know that I knew. Knew you weren't being straight with me. And that kernel of doubt... That could get us both killed tomorrow. And because you were sloppy enough for me to catch on... Well, now you're going to have to give me something, so that I know what you're about. So that I know what you're after."
He met Silas' eyes again. "Cards on the table." he whispered. The fire crackled as the flames got lower.
"... The next move is yours."
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Nov 22, 2022 13:47:11 GMT -5
So he’s not part of the Crimson Hand— or, so it seems. Caedes keeps an eye on him regardless, ensuring he has enough movement to reach his dagger should he need to.
“Hm.” He hums an acknowledgement to Killian’s answer, pale eyes narrowing quizzically at the man; honesty is what he’s getting at… Caedes sighs, watching the way the shadows from the flames dance across Killian’s cold expression. “An honourable and honest swordsman… one who's been in the Seven?” he muses. “Interesting; making up for sins from the past, are you?”
He cocks his head at Killian, smiling lazily as the flames crackle on in the night.
Honesty is not an easy thing to offer the man across the way; his honest truth is one that he’s not going to share… but, to his disdain, he still needs the extra blade to go up against whatever… thing resides in Daisy. He breathes an exhale through his nose, closing his eyes while he considers his wording.
As close to honesty as he could possibly get, without the details.
“There are things in this world that don’t belong here, Killian.” The fire pops; an ember scatters across the dirt and burns out quickly. “Things that get tangled up in a web and snap the threads; monsters, if you will; whether those be people, creatures, or otherwise.” He opens his eyes to meet Killian’s gaze, pale blue reflecting the warmth of the fire.
“I lied about who I was, but I’m not lying about why I want to go there; you want to protect Charon? So do I.” It is, perhaps, not the full truth... but protection is the byproduct of it. “The people who fell victim to that thing in Daisy shouldn’t have; they should be living their lives. It’s breaking things that shouldn’t be broken. Things are off balance. I want to reset the scale, before that thing causes it to tip any farther.”
There’s a potent venom in his voice, dripping with saturation the longer he speaks of Daisy. When he’s done, Caedes takes a breath, clearing his throat as something burns behind his chest; the quiet, silent fury of his patron for this thing that wanders the mortal plane.
It hurts.
“... I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense to you, but that’s my honest truth. Anything less or more, and I’d be lying again. Those are my cards.” Eventually, Caedes draws his eyes back to Killian and meets his gaze; he gestures with open palms. “So… you can take it or leave it as you please; but with or without you, I will be continuing.”
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Post by Killian Glae on Nov 23, 2022 1:52:00 GMT -5
“Interesting; making up for sins from the past, are you?”
"No." The word was said with iron conviction.
Silas continued to explain his desire to stop whatever was in Daisy, and Killian listened intently to every word. When Silas was finished, and his ultimatum delivered, Killian let silence take over the camp. He kept his eyes on Silas, watching every little movement he made, every twitch of every face muscle. Looking for something. Looking for a reason to trust him.
It wasn't the anger that convinced Killian. Anyone can fake anger. It was that little moment afterwards, that clearing of the throat, that little glimpse of something real... Killian thought about it for a long time. The silence sat heavy over the two adventurers, and Killian wasn't interested in breaking it.
After what seemed like an eternity, Killian drew his sword, still sitting. He didn't bother looking at Silas to see his reaction; he simply brought out a whetstone and began sharpening the blade. After that he brought out a tough strip of leather, and used that to finish sharpening. Finally satisfied that his blade was sharp, he looked over at Silas across the dying embers.
"I'm fast," he said. "I can swing my sword twice as fast as most people [Double Strike], and I feel comfortable taking on multiple targets at once. I'm confident in my footwork as well, so don't worry about me losing my balance or falling [Cat's Grace]. I tend to focus on the enemies ahead of me however, so keep an eye on the enemies behind me. I'll do the same for you. I'm happy to take the lead, quick slashes at the first few enemies as I make my way towards the back of any group we might encounter, leaving the first few bleeding and ready for your follow-up attack."
He observed Silas.
"That work for you?"
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